Then
Musician Steve Earle gives his impressions of the convention from a singer/songwriter's perspective. Catch Steve Earle next month performing at Judson Memorial Church in New York, September 22nd through 26th.

Well eva sure we can talk about the US debt but that would be off topic for the whole discussion of Obama's speech.And yes China is buying out debt, in par because we are doing the heavy lifiting in the ME.Most of the oil from the ME goes to China, it is their Oil,as we move forward you can be sure that China will begin to invest in exporting secutiry to oil and commodoties rich areas of the world (like they are now in Africa) SONow can we discuss Obamas plan for our Future. aka what do you think about Nukes?France has em by the bunches, I agree with Obama so should we.What do you think?

My comment below was intended as constructive advice. Anytime I offer constructive advice on the phone with your personnel at the station, they always suggest I post it on your blog. Well, this post below was the first time I took that advice, and apparently it had been removed---for reasons I cannot fathom. --Gary

Dear Brian Lerher

Look over the 100 comments above. Are the any you feel really must be archived for history? I don't. I feel you get the quality of commentary you ask for. And you are asking for the same dumbed-down responses from man-in-the-street interviewers from cable news to Jay Leno.

Since I don't complain without offering a solution, here is my solution:

1. Permit comments that a greater in length.

2. Moderate by content. Front load the commentaries with greatest substance, so one doesn't have to plow through superfluous crap to get to something worth reading.

ONE of my thoughts about the evening was the juxtaposition of the Bamadrones touting the new grassroots movement of small contributors against the lavish costly extravaganza style event they paid for with those $10 and $20 contributions. It makes me think of great cathedrals built for the peasants. Hey, but that's just me.

I think Palin wins the Biden/Palin debate. Think of the expectations game. Everyone knows Biden, knows his many yrs of experience. Unless, Palin is a stumbling, bumbling idiot, she wins the expectations game.

Biden will be on a leash emotionally to guard against accusations of sexism. As a result, he'll appear stilted and inauthentic to the pundits and viewers who know Biden to be fiery and emotional.

Sean #148,My feeling exactly. This is one of the disappointments I had with the speech. Please. "Clean coal" is so energy inefficient that it is a zero sum game. Nuclear? I have too many concerns that have not been adequately addressed. I did not hear about any new sources. Did you?

Also -- this is a present to the embattled Alaska Republican Party. Earlier this week Democrats -- who are barely competitive statewide in Alaska -- were licking their chops at the prospect of running a popular Anchorage mayor against the corrupt incumbent, Ted Stevens. Obama's historic fundraising totals -- the first quarter-billion dollar candidate -- and the inclusion of third party stalwart Bob Barr has placed Obama statistically within the margin of error in recent polls in the Alaska. That was an incredible sentence to write (Democrats winning Alaska?!). Plus: Obama has been running campaign commercials -- unusual for a Democrat -- throughout the state thanks to his massive campaign stash. Those commercials will now come to naught as Palin has, percentagewise, an in-state popularity in the 80s.

Finally, Palin secures the base. It is, to a degree, a triumph of Rush Limbaugh, who has been pushing for Palin for a while.

Gary Krasner: I couldn't disagree with you more. Who told you about the archival standard. I have a different challenge. Go re read all YOUR comments. Your a one sided Left Wing rhetoric drone and bore. You want longer posts?

On John McCain's 72nd birthday, this choice is hardly "dazzling." His major drawback as President is his age and the implications for him finishing his term. His major criticism of Obama is the Democratic candidate's inexperience. This choice for VP leaves me very concerned that she will not be ready on Day 1 or for a long time afterwards and he will have a very hard job emphasizing inexperience from now on.

Brian, I can't believe how little self-awareness you have. You've been right there along with the best of 'em, flogging the bejezus out of the PUMA angle.

As Brooke said, it's not that it isn't a story, it's just that it seemed like a monomania among the mainstream media, Brian included. And WNYC's Amy Eddings was even worse; she really couldn't talk about anything else.

Someone on the program was aksing why there no emphasis on supporting the Constitution from Obama: I think Obama wants to stay away from that area because of his vote for BushCo's FISA bill. He did not support the intent and meaning of the 4th Amemdment and he did not honor his promise to filibuster to prevent telco immunity.

Margo,If part of the disaffection of HRC supporters is based on fatigue from watching younger, better-looking women be promoted over them, why on earth are they going to flock to Palin, shallow or not?

Yep, BORED #112, I think that is what they are saying. I think that's what John McC hopes.

Does anyone else think that while this has been a historic confluence of dates (MLK's speech, women's suffrage, first black nominee, 1908 Denver convention lynching), there is another confluence: McCain's birthday, 3rd anniversary of Katrina and now big bad Gustav bearing down on the Crescent City in time for the Repub convention? Weird.

Obama's "being nice" was necessary for a consistent platform about restoring faith in the political system --- bring it back to the days when intelligent opponents of good will can disagree without personal attacks, and let opponents work together for the good of the nation. It is easier to work across partisan lines when politicians don't waste time with personal barbs or defending from barbs....By being nice-then-critical, he is "modeling" the ideals he offers as an agent of change. He should appeal to McCain & Palin to uphold it for the same reasons that the US should abide by the Geneva conventions: not just for political necessity, but because it is the right thing to do and is the basis for "civilizing" politics. McCain and Obama probably agree that the US is not held to a higher ideal than the rest of the world, rather we have uphold civil disourse and international conventions (even if other countries don't), because "winning at any cost" normally comes at the "cost" of losing what is most important.

I saw a cartoon where Will Rodgers was saying: "I am not a member of an organized party. I am a Democrat." The cartoon noted that the formulation does not work under Obama, or at least the organization he has built.

Sean #79,He lost me a little here as well. I may be in a tiny minority but I would have appreciated hearing him tell us that we are in deep doo-doo and it will cost us to get out. Promising a tax cut while promising to invest in health care, energy, jobs, infrastructure while we already owe $9.5 trillion leaves him open to the usual charges of Dem politics as usual.

I'd have liked to see (or hear--I was listening on the radio) Obama, or anyone, take one more step & challenge McCain's "maverick" image. Because that's all it is, an image. Why not say that voting 90+% w/Bush is not being a maverick?

My own biggest beef w/McCain is that after not only having been tortured in Vietnam but having made that experience the basis of opposing torture by the US, he voted for the version of the Military Commissions Act that authorizes the CIA to carry out torture. That's disgusting.

Finally, I want to thank Brian & the rest of the WNYC team for the great job they've done covering the convention (from their public-radio-budget hotel rooms!).

PS: Jonny [50], it's not Detroit, it's Denver, & Brian was talking about one small area, not the entire city.

She hunts, eats moose burgers, ice fishes, rides snowmobiles, and owns a float plane.[9][10] Palin holds a lifetime membership with the National Rifle Association. She admits that she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska, but says that she did not like it

barry #74:He lost me a little on this one. "Clean" coal is a fantasy, I'm skeptical that we can find a way to dispose of the nuclear waste safely and although he did not mention it, he is a big corn ethonol booster.

#81, It was not anything specific. It was the argument that after their rather psycho approach to it they are not in a position to say the Dems are unqualified.

Ok,Dont want to talk about Energy,Lets talk about the Speech, "University Education for all qualified students" or was it all students.Does this seem real?or even doable an if so how the heck do you do it.I mean just sketch it in.

Markos of the Daily Kos repeated the Obama`s spin that the primary was over in February which is nonsense. From March on Hillary was clearly the strongest candidate winning primary after primary.The primary season was over on June 3 when Obama got the requisite number of delegates.And he only got those delegates when the super delegates that flocked to him as he limped across the finish line in order to deny Hillary the nomination

Markos Moulitas of the Daily Kos repeated the Obama`s spin that the primary was over in February which is nonsense. From March on Hillary was clearly the strongest candidate winning primary after primary.The primary season was over on June 3 when Obama got the requisite number of delegates.And he only got those delegates when the super delegates that flocked to him as he limped across the finish line in order to deny Hillary the nomination

I'll be happy to address the substance of Obama's Speech.He want's to add more Nukes to the energy grid as well as push alt energy, and (as of late) to ramp up the drilling.That all sounds good. Any thoughts?

The convention was broadcast in it's entirety on CSPAN, which everyone who has cable has. Also if you have broadband internet access go to http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx where there are live video and audio streams of all CSPAN channels.

MSNBC.com showed the convention without any of the talking heads. The coverage had various camera shots and show the speakers in its entirety. Even crowd shots. (Yes, crowd shots with the delegates dancing to such "standard" convention music like a band playing Huey Lewis and The News.)

On a serious note, it was great. You got the feel of the convention without hearing opinions stated for the mere fact of filling time.

#30,you might have an argument IF the most disastrous leadership in this country in the last century hadn't come from the GOP. Some questions for your side:1)Do you disagree that Bush incurring a $9.5 trillion deficit is historically disastrous? 2)How are we to pay for that? 3)What sort of pixie dust allowed "fiscally responsible" republicans to go to war without raising taxes? 4)How much debt has Bush sold to China in the last 7 years?

#35 It puts McCain in no trouble WHATSOEVER. All McCain has to do now is look tan and cool while Barama continues to look exotic, pursues disgusting rockstardom, and dares Obbrama to attack a VP Woman now, with a disabled kid! It's OBracka whose in a world of hurt now...

I would like Brooke Gladstone to say why (to the best of my knowledge) no one in the press has noted that Obama's experience in government (fewer than four years in Congress and several years in the Illinois legislature) is almost precisely the same as the experience in government that Lincoln had before he became president.

Why do you republicans keep attacking the moment instead of the speech. John McCain doesnt even attack Obama's message with a counter message instead its oh he's a celebrity, not ready yadayadayada..... Republicans what is yor message? John McCain what supporters what is he offering?

Cartoon animation idea for Brian Lehrer theme song music: Giant Brain walks down Madison Ave in a Cowboy Hat. He peeks into the window of one of the buildings, hip people are designing websites. Angle on computer monitor: dragging around graphics. Giant Brian steps on a few Billboards. etc.

I wish Obama was more progressive in his positions.However, you shouldn't make the perfect the enemy of the good. You're never going to find a pefect candidate. Despite your criticism of Obama, he's 1,000 times better than McCain.If you vote for Nader, you're punishing the nation in a quest for ideological purity.Don't hand the White House to John McCain because you're disappointed with Obama.

#27,at least we get a countdown to Joe's next gaffe... we've had 7 years of continual embarrassment from W. To the extent that most of us don't even really register it anymore - we've become inured to it.

Well, i agree with you, but it does mean that Obama can't play the "McCain is of Washington" game. If being "of Washington" is good for the dems, its good for the other party too. That was my point. Obama will look foolish now if he says that experience is good for one party, but not the other.

The line that jumped out at me was "This is not about me. This is about you." That was the best defense against the Republican strategy of centering their campaign not on issues but on Obama. And, it pulled in everyone. It made it our campaign, our election.

Peter,I disagree - it is important for someone who wants to enact change to bring with him an insider who can help him negotiate the territory. To think he could do it without such insight would be naive in the extreme.

Your comment is right on the money.I think the AP has seriously tarnished its reputation. Remember Ron Fournier? He's the Washington Bureau chief of AP. It was recently reported that he sent Karl Rove a gushing supportive email message. I think Fournier subsequently apologized. I've heard Fournier was offered a job by John McCain. I think AP is slipping closer to Fox News.

The speech was highly cynical. It veered away from the soaring rhetoric that earned him rock star status as a calculated step away from Paris Hiltonhood, and toward a challenge to a street fight, not because he wants the street fight, but because he no longer wants to be Paris Hilton. As that street fight develops, a lot of the little Brittny's out there are going to become less enamoured, because of their limited attention span for conflict, or anything that requires brain power. Obama is a cynical, calculating politician, and last nights stepping back from what got him here, is as cynical as it comes. Get ready for Jimmy Carter II. It's going to be a long and bumpy ride.

Obama sat in the US senate for little more than 100 days when he announced he would run for President. THAT is the reason he's refused McCain's offer to have several open ended town hall style debates, without moderators who tend to attenuate the discussions. And The reason for that is because Obama doen't have the depth of knowledge on the issues.

Lack of experience had caused Presidents as diverse as John Kennedy and GW Bush to injure this country. And the media has not scrutinized this flaw.

I agree with you that Biden seems to be the best choice, but it does tie Obama's hands in saying that McCain is of Washington. It also seems to concede that Obama comes up short on foreign policy. Having said that, I like Biden and feel better with him on the ticket even though I am for McCain.

One can point to "below the belt" attacks from both sides, but challenging Obama for his ties to his church is completely within bounds. Obama attended a church for 20 years that seemed to preach an awful lot of racism and hate. Obama was extremely tolerant of the hate that came from his pastor for a long time - Obama's tolerance can be gauged by his years of silence. Your guest should really explain why saying these things is unfair or out of bounds.

The speech was an embarrassment. He was forced to criticize one of many FORMER economic advisors of McCain, who was quoted as saying the Americans are whiners. Not something McCain said, but a aide of McCain's.

And Obama said it just one day after we learned that the US economy had grown in the last quarter an astounding 3.5 percent, and median incomes rose highest since 2000.

Brack can give a good speech.However I can't get past the following in order to vote for him over Nader:1. FISA2. Patriot Act3. Death Penalty4. More Drilling5. Taking money from Lobbiests and special interests6. Selecting a VP who is wildly corrupt - MBNA bank who hired his son as a VP and Lobbiest.7. Supporting Bush's Energy plan which McCain voted against

This is as good as it gets with Obama, but it might have gotten lost in the spectacle. It kind of reminded me of Beijing. The Republicans will be just as overproduced... but with more flags and flag pins.

Can we talk for one moment about this AP article saying that Obama didn't hit specific points about what he will do when in office?! This highly suspicious article that got the length of the speech wrong by 7 or 8 minutes? Its very troubling that this news source is misreporting (was it written before the speech?) through hundreds of newspapers.

Obama comes through as usual. It was obviously one of the best run conventions ever. Just as his campaign was managed incredibly effectively, so was this extravaganza.

I especially liked when he turned to foreign policy. I thought he was very strong, very secure and mostly on the money. He laid out direct instances of McCain's bad judgment on Iraq, Afghanistan - how his positions have been adopted by even Bush. And then he closed with the rhetoric: "I will restore our moral standing so that America is again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future." OK - I don't know about the peace and future, but I do know that we are (or at least have been) a bastion of freedom for mankind.

Peter,As a "forever" Democrat, I can only speak for one person, but...I think Biden was the BEST choice. He was my first choice, before he dropped out of the presidential running. And yes, I think it's the ONLY policy to acknowledge McCain's humanity and heroism, but to point out why we think he won't make a good leader. Besides supporting a re-opening of trade with Vietnam, there are many things I love about John McCain. But the time for him to be president was eight years ago, before Bush shattered our economy and trashed our global reputation. Now we need someone who can reach out to the rest of the world. Obama is that man.

An ace speach (US Open is in Queens afterall)!!Pat Buchanan said on MSNBC that Obama didn't give a liberal speech, he was right. Sen. Obama delivered a 100% progressive speech, chock full of red meat, calls to service and comon sense.

I watched the Obama speech at a live feed fundraiser. Until last night, I had no idea how inadequate my hands were for the task of applauding nearly continuously. I agreed with virtually everything he said. I really can't even judge the speech objectively, because I was too wrapped up in screaming "yeah" in agreement after what seemed like every line. I felt like Fred Exley watching Frank Gifford in "A Fan's Notes." (But without the alcohol.)

It was great to watch it with a lot of fellow Dems and Obama supporters. But God, we have a long way to go if you look at the polls.

It was interesting that the Democracts seemed to have chosen a strategy that is based on telling everyone that John McCain has faithfully served his country and is a war hero, but...

I am curious if the Democratic base feels that Biden was a good choice? As a McCain supporter (but an independent voter) having Biden as VP would make me feel better if Obama is elected. Also, are those Clinton voters making the switch to Obama or is McCain beginning to pick them up?

Tom Brokaw called the Dem convention a kabuki dance and Ted Koppel called the Dem convention a colossal waste of time and money. Both of them said the event should be shortened by several days because it's largely a fluff affair. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/28/brokaw-and-koppel-on-dnc_n_122199.html

Does Brooke think it's appropriate for Brokaw and Koppel to trash an event while on the ground covering it? I think Brokaw and Koppel crossed the line. Don't they owe it viewers to report from St Paul next week and say that the Repub convention is also too long and is a waste of money?

My favorite part of Obama’s speech was his pushback against McCain’s questioning of his patriotism.

McCain’s quote that “my opponent would rather lose a war than lose an election” is the most disgraceful, outrageous, and depraved attack I’ve ever heard a political candidate make against his campaign opponent. Every editorial page in the country should have denounced this gutter attack line and demanded that McCain issue a public apology.

An outstanding speech. Barack has had my vote for 18 months, but last night was the first time that he brought a real indignation to the campaign. An anger that most of us have felt for these last 8 years. He was aggressive without being crazed. He played right at the net. It was like a symphony that built on a crescendo of sound and fury. I don't agree with virtually anything that Pat Buchanan says or thinks. Last night changed that. Buchanan called it "THE FINEST CONVENTION SPEECH EVER". I second that. He made the case for liberalism without seeming defensive. He made it with courage and conviction. America saw the best Politician in many years last night.

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